GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – As Cornerstone returns to action and begins the fall 2021 men's soccer campaign, there is a greater mission on hand as CU welcomes back senior midfielder Christian Galloway to action after a yearlong battle with T-Cell Lymphoma that sidelined him for the spring 2021 year. Galloway however is not the only one who has been affected by cancer, senior Davin McMullin's mom continues an ongoing battle with breast cancer. As the team prepares for the new year, Head Coach Steve Herdsman and the men's soccer program look to shed light on the greater story as the team opens play at Shawnee State on Thursday at 8 p.m. and Ohio Christian on Saturday at 11 a.m. 
 
Christian Galloway Interview

 
The Pink Swoosh
The Golden Eagles have a new home and road kit for the 2021 season, and Head Coach Steve Herdsman and the guys chose to add a special touch to both uniforms that will remain for the next few seasons. Every uniform has a pink Nike swoosh on both the jersey and the shorts as a reminder and method to raise awareness specifically to the McMullin's family's story with breast cancer. Many athletes both at CU and across the world have seen family members effected by cancer, and the men's soccer program is committed to playing in honor of those effected. 
 


 
Davin McMullin Interview

 
Something to Build on
Cornerstone returns to action after a 6-6-1 campaign in 2020 where they won a WHAC Tournament Quarterfinal for the first time since 2012 when they went all the way to the finals and lost in penalty kicks. CU remains very young, graduating just one senior last year in Logan John's while returning a pair of key pieces in starting keeper Alan Roman and leading scorer Nate Kaercher. Cornerstone brings in a lot of young talent as well, including Columbian Daniel Carrillo from Columbia and Pablo Rodriguez from Spain. 
 
WHAC Predictions: 
Earlier this month, the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference came out with the 2021 preseason poll that has Cornerstone tabbed seventh overall with 77 points. Defending WHAC Champion Indiana Tech is expected to repeat, earning 144 points and all 12 first place votes. 
 
Scouting Shawnee State
The Bears will open their 2021 season vs. Cornerstone after finishing 2020 with a 5-6-3 overall record. Despite going under .500 last season, Shawnee State scored 30 goals for an average of 2.14 a game. Leading scorer Kevin de Lange returns for his junior season out of the Netherlands after scoring 13 goals last season. For his career, he has 43 with a season best 16 goals scored in 2019. Defensively however, Shawnee State gave up 25 goals in 2020 with 20 of those against freshman starting keeper Bas Markus also from the Netherlands. Shawnee State overall has a roster with a heavy international presence, as 10 of the teams 18 players come from oversees. 
 
Scouting Ohio Christian 
The Trail Blazers will open their 2021 campaign against Cornerstone as well bright and early at 11 a.m. on Saturday, August 21. OCU is just in their eighth season of men's soccer program where they saw some early success and winning records, but only went 1-8-1 in 2020 under first year Head Coach George Arroyo. Ohio Christian could not keep the ball out of their own net last season despite averaging 9.4 saves per game, as they allowed 53 total goals while only scoring 12. Coach Arroyo however looks to regroup in 2021 with 16 freshman listed on the roster that includes both the incoming class as well as redshirts due to the COVID season.  
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Jesse Campbell
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